Page 73 of No Place for Single Cowboys

Cordy let herself preen because shewashaving fun. She gave Helena a conspiratorial look.He is, and I am having the best time.

Helena gave one last approving nod, then headed off with her daughter. Cordy resolved to sit next to Helena in the Parents’ Corner the next time she was in the Donut Palace.

Oblivious to what had just happened, Chance nudged Cordy along. “Come on. We still have to get your funnel cake.”

They didn’t find the funnel cake but ran into Ruby at the snow cone booth. She had a red solo cup in her hand and a butterfly painted across her cheek.

“One of my old students has a face painting booth set up,” Ruby explained as she hugged Cordy. Chance didn’t get a hug.

“I like it.” In fact, Cordy felt like getting something done, too. Why not? “Where’s the booth?”

“That way. Ooh, are you going?”

“Yes.”

That made Chance snort-laugh, but he caught himself when Cordy frowned. “Sure, no, that’s a great idea.”

Ruby raised her eyebrows at Chance. “You should get one too.”

Cordy ended up with a toucan on her cheek, and Chance got a panda on his hand. Ruby’s student was a high schooler raising money to buy art supplies, so Cordy was happy to give the girl a big tip.

“Why a panda?” she asked Chance as they continued through the booths.

“Because that was the other one you wanted before you settled on the toucan.” He held up his hand. The panda had a silly grin, its round body dancing as Chance flexed his fingers. “So this way, you got both of them.”

“I swear,” Ruby said, “the funnel cake guy is usually right here. I hope he didn’t skip this month.”

“He better not have,” Chance growled.

“Guys, I don’t need a funnel cake,” Cordy said. “Honestly, I shouldn’t even be eating it.”

“You want one, you get one.” Chance looked around. “Where is that guy?”

Ruby went very still next to Cordy. “Holy crap,” she whispered. “That can’t be her.”

“Who?” Cordy looked around. “Who are you talking about?”

“Don’t look,” Ruby hissed.

“Look at what?” Chance asked.

He went as stiff as Ruby when he saw whoever it was.

“Shit,” he muttered under his breath. “Shit. Never thought she’d come back.”

“Sherry broke her hip,” Ruby said. “I haven’t had time to check in on her, but Ramona went over. I guess Dakota came back because of that.”

“Who is Dakota?” Cordy asked. “And who’s Sherry?”

“Sherry is Sherry Creswell,” Ruby explained. “I don’t think you’ve ever met her unless it was at the Donut Palace. Dakota is Sherry’s granddaughter.”

There was a woman in the crowd with long, dark brown hair with her back to them.

“That’s her?” Cordy asked.

Ruby nodded. “Dakota is also…”

“The only woman Lane ever loved.” Chance’s expression was distant as he finished what Ruby couldn’t say.

---